Kalista v. Pacific Employer's Insurance, Unpublished Decision (6-12-2003)
Kalista v. Pacific Employer's Insurance, Unpublished Decision (6-12-2003)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On July 24, 2000, Kalista filed suit against David Baron and CIGNA Property and Casualty ("CIGNA"). On November 9, 2000, CIGNA failed to answer the plaintiff's complaint, and default judgment was entered against them. The trial court granted judgment for Kalista in the amount of $239,500, less $100,000 settlement collected from Allstate Insurance.
{¶ 3} On February 21, 2001, the trial court granted a motion by CIGNA to vacate the default judgment. CIGNA claimed that Pacific, one of its subsidiaries, was the proper defendant since it issued the insurance policy to Mr. Kalista's employer, Praxair, Inc. On October 12, 2001, Kalista was granted leave to file an amended complaint and substituted Pacific for CIGNA.
{¶ 4} The instant matter stems from a motor vehicle accident that occurred on July 26, 1998. John Kalista was seated on his motorcycle and parked in the westbound berm of State Route 2 in Erie County, Ohio. The tortfeasor, David Baron, lost control of his vehicle and struck Kalista. The impact catapulted Kalista into the air and over the guardrail causing serious injuries.
{¶ 5} Baron was insured under a policy issued by Allstate Insurance Company, which had a liability limit of $100,000. Kalista accepted the Allstate policy limit in exchange for a liability release against Baron, who was dismissed from this suit.
{¶ 6} On June 30, 1998, Pacific issued a Business Automobile Policy ("Policy"), No. ISA H07402776, to Praxair, Inc. The Policy had a liability limit of $2,000,000 per accident. Kalista claims he is entitled to uninsured/underinsured ("UM/UIM") motorists benefits under this Policy pursuant to Scott-Pontzer v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company
(1999),
{¶ 7} On December 10, 2002, the trial court granted Pacific's motion for summary judgment as a matter of law based on the court's holding that UIM coverage had been offered and properly rejected by Pacific's insured. For the reasons set forth below, we reverse and remand this cause to the trial court.
{¶ 8} The appellant presents five assignments of error, which we address together since they all challenge the trial court's decision concerning cross motions for summary judgment and share a common basis in law and fact.1
{¶ 9} Civ.R. 56 provides that summary judgment may be granted only after the trial court determines: 1) no genuine issues as to any material fact remain to be litigated; 2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and 3) it appears from the evidence that reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion and viewing such evidence most strongly in favor of the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made, that conclusion is adverse to that party. Norris v.Ohio Std. Oil Co. (1982),
{¶ 10} It is well established that the party seeking summary judgment bears the burden of demonstrating that no issues of material fact exist for trial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett (1987),
{¶ 11} In Dresher v. Burt (1996),
{¶ 12} This court reviews the lower court's granting of summary judgment de novo. Brown v. Scioto Bd. of Commrs. (1993),
{¶ 13} The appellant asserts that he is afforded uninsured/ underinsured motorist ("UM/UIM") coverage pursuant to the Ohio Supreme Court's ruling in Scott-Pontzer v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co. (1999),
{¶ 14} "B. Who Is An Insured
{¶ 15} "1. You
{¶ 16} "2. If you are an individual, any family member.
{¶ 17} "3. Anyone else occupying a covered auto or a temporary substitute for a covered auto. `The covered auto must be out of service because of its breakdown, repair, servicing, loss or destruction.
{¶ 18} "4. Anyone for damages he or she is entitled to recover because of bodily injury sustained by another insured."
{¶ 19} The Supreme Court of Ohio concluded that the above definition of "insured" was ambiguous in that the term "you" could be construed to include the corporation's employees because a corporation can act only by and through real live persons. Employing the legal principle that ambiguous provisions in an insurance contract will be construed against the insurer, the court concluded that Pontzer was an insured at the time of his death under the underinsured motorist provision of the commercial automobile policy issued to Superior Dairy.
{¶ 20} The Policy presented by the appellees contains the following relevant provisions:
{¶ 21} "1. Who Is An Insured
{¶ 22} "The following are `insureds.'
{¶ 23} "a. You for any covered `auto.'
{¶ 24} "b. Anyone else while using with your permission a covered `auto' you own, hire, or borrow except:
{¶ 25} "* * *"
{¶ 26} The named insured of the Policy is Praxair, Inc. Use of the term "you" constitutes the same ambiguity found by the Supreme Court inScott-Pontzer. Thus, the ambiguous term "you" is deemed to include employees of the corporate entity.
{¶ 27} Next, we focus on the definition section. The term "auto" is defined as "a land motor vehicle," which this court interprets to include motorcycles absent a policy provision excluding them. Last, the coverage applies to any "Owned Autos," qualifying the appellant as an insured under this policy.
{¶ 28} The Ohio Supreme Court addressed the issue of what constitutes a "valid offering" of UM/UIM coverage under R.C.
{¶ 29} It is undisputed that the present insurance policy was issued after the enactment of H.B. 261. According to R.C.
{¶ 30} "A named insured's or applicant's rejection of both coverages as offered under division (A) of this section, or named insured's or applicant's selection of such coverages in accordance with the schedule of limits approved by the superintendent, shall be in writing and shall be signed by the named insured or applicant. A named insured's or applicant's written, signed rejection of both coverages as offered under division (A) of this section, or a named insured's or applicant's written, signed selection of such coverages in accordance with the schedule of limits approved by the superintendent, shall be effective on the day signed, shall create a presumption of an offer of coverages consistent with division (A) of this section, and shall be binding on all other named insureds, insureds, or applicants."
{¶ 31} Appellee claims this section of R.C.
{¶ 32} After the enactment of H.B. 261, the Ohio Supreme Court certified two questions concerning the future applicability of Linko. The court was asked in Kemper v. Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance Co.
(2002),
{¶ 33} Appellees contend that Kemper, read along with the applicable version of R.C.
{¶ 34} The appellees' "selection form" briefly provides a description of the coverage provided fulfilling the first requirement ofLinko,
{¶ 35} "UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORISTS INSURANCE COVERAGE
{¶ 36} "Ohio Revised Code Section
{¶ 37} "Unless you have previously rejected this coverage, your policy has been issued to include Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Coverage at the limits(s) equal to the policy bodily injury liability limit(s).
{¶ 38} "If you reject this coverage, your rejection shall extend to all supplemental or renewal policies, unless you subsequently request such coverage in writing.
{¶ 39} "REDUCED LIMITS — Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Insurance Coverage
{¶ 40} "Ohio Revised Code Sections
{¶ 41} "INSTRUCTIONS
{¶ 42} "If you wish to act upon any of these offers mentioned above, please complete, as appropriate, the Selection Form below, detach and return to your agent or broker, who can also answer any questions about this message."
{¶ 43} Next, the "selection form" names the insured, Praxair, Inc., along with a signature line for rejecting coverage or accepting reduced limits. The "selection form" was signed by Edward DeLoughy, Praxair's authorized representative, rejecting UM/UIM coverage. The selection form provides UM/UIM policy limits equal to liability limits. However, the premium for UM/UIM coverage or for reduced limits was not stated on the selection form, nor anywhere else in the policy, failing the second prong of Linko.
{¶ 44} This court finds this policy to be ambiguous. The appellee fails to comply with the valid offering requirements set forth in Linko. We note the trial court ruled on the instant matter before the Supreme Court released its decision in Kemper. Finding additional guidance from the Supreme Court we must reverse.
{¶ 45} This court holds that Pacific's "selection form" does not meet the requirements for a proper offer set forth by the Supreme Court in Linko;, therefore, UM/UIM coverage arises by operation of law. This court also finds that Kalista is an insured for the purposes ofScott-Pontzer.
{¶ 46} Assignments of error 1 through 4 are upheld, assignment of error 5 is overruled. Summary judgment as a matter of law is premature since there are additional issues the trial court needs to address.
Judgment of the trial court is reversed and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
ANN DYKE, P.J., AND ANTHONY O. CALABRESE, JR., J., CONCUR.
I. The Trial Court Erred In Granting Summary Judgment In Favor Of Defendant-appellee Based On Its Holding That Defendant-appellee's Insured Had Rejected Uninsured/underinsured Coverage. II. The Trial Court Erred When It Declared That The Requirements Set Out In Linko Did `not Apply To This Case' Relying On The Unreported 9th District Case Of Martinez v. Travelers Insurance Co. Which Is No Longer Good Law In Light Of The Supreme Court's Ruling In Kemper v. MichiganMutual. III. The Trial Court Erred In Holding That Plaintiff-appellant Was Not Entitled To Uninsured/underinsured Motorist Coverage Under The Defendant-appellee's Business Auto Policy. IV. The Trial Court Erred In Holding That Plaintiff-appellant Failed To Rebut R.C. V. The Trial Court Erred In Denying Cross-motion Of Plaintiff-appellant For Summary Judgment.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.